Tag: father garnault

George Town Street View: BISHOP STREET

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Bishop Street (or in local Malay name, Lebuh Bishop), is a street situated in the heritage area of George Town and is connected with Beach Street and King Street. The street was named after the Roman Catholic Bishop Garnault (a French missionary) who moved to Penang island during the old colonial era, upon an invitation by Francis Light. The bishop’s presbytery is located at the street.

During the earlier days, Bishop Garnault (or formerly Father Garnault) also founded and established Penang’s oldest church, and the street where the church was located, was named Church Street.

Bishop Street

Bishop Street

George Town Street View: CHURCH STREET

Church Street is one of the many old and historical streets in George Town. It was named after a Catholic missionary church which was later renamed as the first Church of Assumption (the church being founded by Father Garnault, a French missionary). This church was, however, demolished in 1850s and a new Church of Assumption was built at Farquhar Street.

It was said that back in the old days, a famous and notorious Chinese secret society had made their headquarter at Church Street, the same street that also housed Portuguese churches. There is a street art sculpture which depicts the said history in Church Street.

Church Street runs through several streets as well as connects Kapitan Keling Mosque Street with Beach Street.